Bad RAM slot on my Motherboard?

[basepointdesignz]

Hi,

I'm starting to believe I have a bad RAM slot on my MotherBoard..

My Motherboard is a Foxconn 661 7MI and i have been having a few problems with my system crashing lately, and have narrowed it down to RAM problems..

After buying a new PC3200 1GB 184 PIN 2.5V 400MHZ stick (to match my existing stick) my system starting crashing after some memory hungry procedures..


Today I have done a few quick tests to see if it one of the RAM sticks or one of the slots on my motherboard..

Basically, the tests were as follows:

Have only one RAM stick (in slot 1) and ran my studio - Cubase SX3 with a track playing. Then I added a memory extensive plug-in program into the track while it was playing, which would of course load my CPU and RAM..

This was fine and worked as it should..

Then, with the second stick of RAM in slot 2 (so both sticks in now), tried the same test and my system blacked-out and rebooted itself..

Next, with only the second stick in slot 1, i repeated the test and everything was fine..

Final test was with second stick of RAM in slot 1 and first stick in slot 2. Repeated test and again system crashed and rebooted..

Concluding, well to me anyway, that RAM slot 2 on my motherboard must be at fault..


The thing is, on non-memory hungry tasks, the system seems very stable and both sticks of RAM are recognised by XP, its just with really heavy tasks with both sticks of RAM in, does it run into problems and die on me..

If it is my second RAM slot on my MB, then is there any way to fix / repair it? Or could anything else be causing these problems and / or what can i do about it?


Cheers,

Paul
basepointdesignzltd..
P4 3.0Ghz / 2GB RAM
XP Pro SP2
Sapphire X1950 512MB Dual-DVi Graphics Card..

 

[xit]

May be your ram is not compatible with one another under a load. Is your ram the same brand & the same CAS latency?

Just a thought

xit

 

[electronicsfreak]

Also how powerful is your power supply? what is the wattage? what is the amperage on the +12?

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[wahnula]

Ah yes...the PSU. Could be the only suspect left but as you will recall he ran the test with only 1 stick of RAM in the questionable slot and the system still crashed, while it performed fine in the other slot. As odd as it may seem, this does sound like a bad RAM slot.

To double-check I would remove the MB and clean all the traces UNDERNEATH the RAM slot, maybe there is a piece of cruft that is shorting out the traces beneath the MB. A good general cleaning of both sides of the MB may help, in addition to cleaning the slot itself. I use CAIG's ProGold G5 connector enhancer, either on a q-tip or on the card contacts, then work the card in & out of the slot. KEY: Moderation in all things.

That's my take...

 

[electronicsfreak]

ah yeah good point, forgot about that lol.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[burtsbees]

Are you able to get a dummy RAM stick and stick it in slot 1 with a good stick in slot 2???

Burt

 

[basepointdesignz]

Hi,

My PSU is new (well as of 2 months ago now) its a JeanTech 700W (

https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?JEA-700AP)..

I dunno if the RAM sticks are the same brand but they are of the same type: DDR2 PC3200 1GB 184 PIN 2.5V 400MHZ..

I shall look more into it when i have time, but thanks for the responses so far. Maybe a good spring clean may be in order

Cheers,

Paul
basepointdesignzltd..
P4 3.0Ghz / 2GB RAM
XP Pro SP2
Sapphire X1950 512MB Dual-DVi Graphics Card..

 

[carpetbelly]

Unfortunately I have had the exact same issue with an old gigabyte board I used to have. One of the slots had fried somehow and the whole board had to be replaced. Luckily for me, I wanted to upgrade at the time anyway.

 

[BadBigBen]

Look in the BIOS for the RAM settings, especially those concerning TIMING and VOLTAGE...

bad timing and too low or too high a voltage can cause many of the symptoms you have described...

best is to let the BIOS handle the timings (per SPD) and voltage (AUTO)... and if you have any setting to TURBO Charge the RAM, turn it off...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[lmwtech]

I would check latency of ram. Some foxconn boards are funny and need exact same ram in all areas to run. But i also have had several foxconn boards with just one bad memory slot. Seems to be something in the making of their boards. We quit using them because of all the problems they seem to get.

 

[basepointdesignz]

Hey everyone, sorry haven't been back to check and respond for a while, and many many thanks for all your sugesstions, tips and advice. Still had no luck, but will check the latency if you can explain to me one thing:

1: How do i check it? Do i have to find it out from the spec from where i got it, or is there a way i can READ it in BIOS or maybe even its in the numbers on the sticker on the top?

Cheers,

Paul
basepointdesignzltd..
P4 3.0Ghz / 2GB RAM
XP Pro SP2
Sapphire X1950 512MB Dual-DVi Graphics Card..